Kadi Energy has put the $25,000 first-place prize it won at the Big Idea competition in April to good use, having manufactured and shipped 1,000 battery- and solar-powered mobile phone chargers from its introductory line. Approximately 900 Ray 10 units headed to Ghana this summer, says Paul-Miki Akpablie ’16, who leads the company with Samantha Barlow ’13 and Usaama Alnaji ’14. Akpablie recently was profiled by Huffington Post as one of four “young African innovators you should know.”

Kadi’s employees have been working with the company’s distribution partner, Burro, to determine ways to better sell and market the Ray 10 charger, and solidifying partnerships with startups in Ghana to help promote the Ray product line. Kadi Energy also responded to a request for donations from Empower Generations, an NGO working to bring solar-powered relief to Nepal following the earthquake. Colorado College’s Asian Studies Program subsidized the delivery of 60 Ray 10 units to relief workers and individuals affected by the earthquake. Akpablie, a math and biochemistry major from Ho, Ghana, says the company aims to raise $300,000 from investors next year to produce more chargers, open an office in Ghana, and expand Kadi’s sales network.

Second place and $15,000 went to iDro, with Fredrik Lindseth ’15 and Jeremy Harlam ’15 presenting. Third place and $10,000 went to Colorado Springs Food Rescue, whose pitch was presented by Meredith Bird ’15 and Dan Lewis ’14.